Russell Okung, warrior

It can't be easy to be the guy drafted to replace Walter Jones, the Canton-bound left tackle who was the greatest Seahawk ever, and who reigned for a few years as the league's greatest player.

Russell Okung has had a frustrating rookie season, fighting a series of high ankle sprains (first one leg, then the other!). He has missed several games. In one contest between ankle sprains--when he was fully healthy--Okung performed brilliantly on the road against Chicago, shutting down Julius Peppers, one of the NFL's most dominant defensive ends.

Playing hurt for most of the season, Okung has struggled to achieve competence. We have generally run the ball better when he is in the lineup, though not that much better. His pass protection has been good, though not perfect.

Instability at the neighboring left guard position has not helped. Ideally, a rookie on the O-Line would receive the sage guidance of stable veteran linemen, but the Seahawks have fielded ten different offensive line combinations this year, which has prevented the unit as a whole from developing the complex chemistry and coordination required to execute at a high level. The left side of the line has been particularly unstable, so Okung--when he has been healthy enough to play--has had to get used to working with several different left guards, each with different abilities and tendencies. On the line, when you don't know how your neighbor will handle what the defense is doing, it makes it difficult to succeed in a zone blocking scheme.

However, last week, in a do-or-die duel for the NFC West championship, the rookie rose to the occasion. For most of the game, Okung had to deal with Rams defensive end James Hall, a veteran who entered the game with ten sacks on the season.

The rookie held his own against Hall until the second quarter, when he got hurt again. It looked like Okung aggravated his high ankle sprain. In obvious pain, he hobbled to the sideline.

In his absence, the line struggled. His replacement--Chester Pitts--got flagged for holding. Then Pitts sustained a head injury that forced him out of the game.

At that point, Okung re-entered the game. Although clearly impaired by the injury, Okung gutted it out and finished.

In the end, the rookie held Hall to zero sacks. In fact, none of the Rams defenders ever managed to sack Charlie Whitehurst. Partly, this was due to the quarterback's mobility. But it also reflected an improved performance by the whole offensive line.

The O-Line also stepped up their run blocking.

Okung hasn't missed any practice this week. He's playing through the pain, because he's a warrior. Because it's the playoffs.